Classes, Demonstrations, and Seminars to Feature Local Foods with Cooking by Local Chefs

The Finger Lakes Wine Festival presented by Yancey’s Fancy New York’s Artisan Cheese, July 16-18, will feature several cooking demonstrations, culinary classes and wine seminars to educate and entertain people attending the festival. Nearly 20 classes, demonstrations and seminars will take place throughout the weekend at Watkins Glen International. All of these activities will be located on the second floor of the track’s media center. Same-day sign-ups will begin promptly at 10:00 AM in the media center, and attendees are encouraged to signup early as all activities have limited seating.

Culinary classes will feature the work of three local chefs as they present quick dishes utilizing regional ingredients. Chef Instructor Eric K. Smith of the New York Wine and Culinary Center, will join Chef Paul Mach of Penn College and a team of Cargill Chefs to teach attendees everything from pairing beer and food, and cooking with seasonal NYS ingredients, to utilizing Cargill Salts to add flavor to recipes.

Cooking Demonstrations will be presented by the Finger Lake Culinary Bounty. These six sessions will feature chefs from local wineries, restaurants and regional companies, who will prepare dishes that feature NYS ingredients or a Finger Lakes region wine pairing.

A variety of wine seminars will be presented by the New York Wine & Culinary Center. These seminars will teach attendees about a variety of topics, including pairing wine with cheese and chocolate, understanding the winemaking process, and provide a sampling of wines from across our great state.

Once a year, Watkins Glen International transforms from The Soul of American Road Racing into the Finger Lake’s largest tasting room, where over 600 New York wines will be sampled. The celebration kicks-off Friday evening at 6:00 pm, July 17th, with fireworks, wine, and togas at “Yancey’s Fancy Cheese Launch of the Lakes.” Saturday and Sunday the Festival will open at 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, featuring a variety of wine and food and arts and crafts from across the state, culinary classes, cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, the Brewers’ Garden, pace car rides, comedy and live musical entertainment and much more. Also new in 2010, the festival is expanding their grounds to offer a new wine tasting area adjacent to the previous tasting grounds. The festival will also offered new reserved camping areas, shuttle service to area hotels, and plenty of free parking. For information, please contact the Watkins Glen ticket office, toll free, at 866-461-7223, or visit the official website at www.flwinefest.com, and do not hesitate to add the Finger Lakes Wine Festival as a friend on Facebook!